Careers in National Security Guard (NSG)

National Security Guard (NSG) was set up in 1984 as a Federal Contingency
Deployment Force to tackle all facets of terrorism in the country. It
was raised to a special force by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National
Security Guard Act of the Indian Parliament in 1986. NSG is
an elite force, working completely within the Central Armed Police
Forces structure. It is one of the finest counter terrorist units
in the world performing a variety of roles from counter-terrorism to hostage
rescue to VIP protection.

NSG is a task-oriented force, modeled on the pattern of the SAS of UK
and GSG-9 of Germany and has two complementary elements in the form of
Special Action Group (SAG) and Special Ranger Groups (SRG). SAG, the offensive
wing comprise of army personnel and SRG consists of members from Central
Paramilitary Forces (CPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) such
as the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) and State Police forces. The primary function
of the SRG is to play a supportive role to the SAG, especially in isolating
target areas. The task of providing VVIP security for high-risk VVIPs
in India is done by the SRG of the NSG.

The smallest combat unit in the NSGs counter-terrorist operations is
known as hit which comprises five members - two pairs, or partners and
a technical support member. Four hits make a team which is under the command
of a Captain. The number of hits used for an intervention job depends
on its complexity and the magnitude of the operation.

The NSG operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Home Affairs
and is headed by the Director General of the Indian Police Service (IPS).
NSG members/ commandos are popularly known as Black Cats because of the
black drill cotton coveralls and balaclavas or helmets they
wear.

The specific goal of NSG commandos include :

Neutralisation of specific terrorist threats

Handling hijacking situations in the air and on the land.

Engaging and neutralising terrorists in specific situations.

Bomb disposal (search, detection and neutralisation of IEDs)

Post Blast Investigation (PBI)

Rescue of hostages in kidnap situations

NSG is specially equipped and trained to deal with specific situations
and is therefore, to be used only in exceptional situations. The Force
is not designed to undertake the functions of the State Police Forces
or other Para Military Forces of the Union of India. The motto of NSG
is - One for All, All for One.

How to Join in NSG

Requirements for Deputation to NSG

A candidate cannot enter directly to National Security Guard force. Since NSG
is a deputation force, there is no direct recruitment. The recruitment for NSG
Commandos are generally done from existing defence forces. So in order to be
eligible to become a National Security Guard, one has to be a soldier or a
member/ trainee of a military or para-military force. Only those with excellent
performances are considered for NSG. Besides, they should not have any red-ink
entry, no criminal record and have no punishment record in the last three years
of service.

Ranks in the NSG range from junior commissioned officer to team commander.
Aspirants for Entry-level positions are required to be less than 30 years old
and should have a minimum of 2 years in the defence service. There are also
several physical and psychological tests to assess suitability in NSG.

Ranks in the Army and Central Police organisations from which the NSG candidates
are deputed are given below:

Army

JCO

Junior Commissioned Officer

NCO

Non Commissioned Officer

OR

Other Ranks

CE*

Certificate Education

ACR*

Annual Confidential Report

Central
Police Organisations (CPOs)

SO

Subordinate
Officer

UO

Under Officer

Insp

Inspector

Sub Insp

Sub Inspector

Consts

Constables

Qualitative Requirements (QRs) for Deputation to NSG

Sr.
No.

Rank / Designation

Ranger Group

Administrative Group

Remarks

1.

Age Factor (in
years)

a

Sepoys / Consts

b

NCOs / UOs

c

JCOs / SOs

(i) Insp

(ii) Sub Insp

d

Officers

(i) Team Commander

(ii) SquadronCommander

(iii) Group Commander

Below 30

Below 38

Below 43

Below 40

Below 38

Below 42

Below 47

Below 35

Below 40

Below 43

Below 40

Below 38

Below 42

Below 47

(No restriction in case of security
aide)

2.

Service Experience
Factor (in terms of minimum years of service)

a

Sepoys / Consts

b

NCOs / UOs

c

JCOs / SOs

d

Officers

2

1

1

No restriction

5

3 (as NCO / UO)

3 (as JCOs / SOs)

No restriction

(As NCO / UO for direct appointees
and no restriction for promotees)

(As JCOs / SOs for direct appointees
and no restriction promotees)

3

Education Factor

a

Sepoys / Consts

b

NCOs / UOs

c

JCOs / SOs

8th/
3rd CE

8th/
3rd CE

10th/
1st CE

6th/
3rd CE

6th/
3rd CE

10th/
1st CE

4

Physical Standards

a

Serving officers & JCOs / SOs

b

OR

No restriction

As laid down in the recruitment rules
in respective Para-Military / Police Organisations without any
condonation

5

Health Factor

Medical Category 'A' for all categories
and ranks

6

Training Factor

Preference will be given to those
who have done professional / technical training courses in recognized
training institutions

7

Service Factor

a

Punishment

b

General ACR

Punishment free record for three
years and no major punishment during entire service

Categorization : not below 'good'

How to Join in NSG

Decide what rank or function you want to achieve in the NSG. You can join
either Special Action Group (SAG) or Special Rangers Group (SRG); both are
divisions of the NSG. There are certain age requirements so it is best that
you plan ahead and have a clear goal for your future in the NSG.

Check if you meet all the application criteria, such as age, service
experience, education and physical and health standards. The criteria would
depend on the rank you are applying for. You should also have no red-ink
entry, no criminal record and have no punishment record in the last three
years you are in the service.

Submit to a complete medical exam, which will include a physical and
psychological evaluation. Keep the document that you will be given after you
complete the exam. You will need this when you apply for the National
Security Guard training program. The only acceptable medical evaluation for
joining the National Security Guard is 'A'.

Apply for a National Security Guard training program in Manesar, which is
near Delhi. There are a number of different courses in the program, such as
a bomb disposal course, VIP driving course and left-wing extremism course.
Check the NSG website for information about accommodations, schedules and
fees regarding the training program.

Apply to become an official member of the National Security Guard. Fill
out the application form and pay the required fee. Prepare the documents
that prove you have completed the training, served in the army or another
recognizable government service and passed the medical exam. Then send the
complete documentation to the NSG headquarters in Mehram Nagar, New Delhi.

Wait for the confirmation from the National Security Guard office.

Additional preparations for the training program, such as sport
activities, gym classes and martial arts lessons are highly recommended.

Being a member of an elite special force is a privilege, but is also
extremely dangerous. Make sure not to mislead your physician about any kind
of medical condition that could put you or others in danger.

Training in NSG

The National Security Guard Training Centre is located at Manesar in Haryana
about 50 km from New Delhi. The 14 month training program commence with the
basic training which last for 3 months (90 days). The basic training include
physical fitness that has 26 elements, ranging from a cross country obstacle
course to jumping from heights and across divides, and scaling different kinds
of terrain. The training prepares the commandos to handle sophisticated
communication equipment, combat gadgets and different kinds of arms/ specialized
weapons such as AK-47/ 74s, browning hi-power 9mm pistols, etc. and bolt-action
Mauser SP66/ 86SR which is specifically deployed for anti-terror/ anti-hijacking
operations. There is a target shooting session at the end of the obstacle course
meant to test the aspirant's performance under conditions of stress and
exhaustion.

Those who successfully complete the basic trainings are sent for nine months
of advanced training.

Advanced Training familiarises the NSG personnel with state-of-the-art
surveillance gadgets and other sophisticated equipment. The advanced training
unit has a superb bomb disposal squad unit. Advanced training also covers
‘combat room shoot’ in which commandos have to enter a dark room, adjust
their vision to the darkness and shoot at a target within three seconds by
torchlight or a compatible laser image intensifier. Similar training is also
conducted under discotheque strobe lights. Shooting skills are honed at an
electronic combat shooting range, which is divided into 11 zones and spread over
400 metres. Recruits have to cover the distance in 6.30 minutes and fire at 29
targets along the way, with the target exposure time between two and three
seconds and the targets are of all kinds – vertically rising, popping out,
moving and rotating. The faster a person engages the target the more points he
scores. It is not just non-reactive targets that they practice against. In twin
room shooting, rival combatants enter contiguous rooms and watch each other’s
movements on a screen. They are supposed to neutralise each other by shooting at
the screen. The exercise test the combatants response time and accuracy under
near-field conditions. The men are also put through a battle inoculation program
where they have to stand right next to the target while one of their partners
shoots at it.

Only those who complete the entire course successfully are inducted into the
NSG and given further specialised training. Some NSG personnel are sent to
Israel for advanced training. Though it is not known exactly what training they
receive, it could probably be the CT/HRT course with Unit 707.

For maintaining the young profile of the force, troops are rotated and sent
back to their parent organisations after serving in the NSG for three to five
years.